An Investigation into the Application of the Hindemith Method to Jazz-Based Composition.

Ralph Whiteoak’s study presents a folio of jazz oriented compositions inspired by the music of legendary Australian modern jazz and saxophone virtuoso, Frank Smith (1927-74). Smith attributed his phenomenal skill to the study of neo-tonal music theory of the German composer, Paul Hindemith (1895-1963). The main objective of the project was to determine Hindemith’s influences and concepts that enabled Smith to compose and improvise music in a seemingly inimitable way and then systematically learn and adapt these influences to create a folio jazz related compositions.